Reed signs with Jets, reunites with former coach Ryan

This is a 2013 photo of Ed Reed of the Houston Texans NFL football team. This image reflects the Houston Texans active roster as of Sunday, August 10, 2008 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Photo: Uncredited, FRE

Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips called having had the opportunity, however brief, to work with Ed Reed "a privilege and an honor" - never mind that Reed had said after the 27-24 loss at Arizona on Sunday that the team had been "outplayed and out-coached."

Phillips, of course, served as acting head coach against the Cardinals with Gary Kubiak recovering from a mini-stroke. But Phillips insisted Reed's disparaging comment didn't bother him. Instead, he praised Reed as a "future Hall of Famer" and for being a "great (influence) in the locker room," even if he didn't contribute much on the field in the seven games he played for the Texans, all of them losses.

Reed, who was released Monday and signed with the New York Jets on Thursday, wasn't active for the Texans' two season-opening victories, having missed all of the offseason sessions and training camp because of arthroscopic hip surgery that the organization didn't know he needed after signing him as a free agent from Super Bowl champion Baltimore.

In 12 seasons with the Ravens, he intercepted 61 passes and made nine Pro Bowl teams. Phillips admitted Reed's lack of productivity in Houston - no picks, no sacks, only 14 solo tackles - was a major disappointment because, he said, "We thought he could be the J.J. Watt of the secondary.

"Things didn't work out that way. The guy had a major operation, you know? He didn't have any offseason. He didn't have any training camp. He wasn't able to play until the third game of the year. I think that was a big factor, in my estimate. He did all the right things and wanted to do things well. I wish him well with the Jets."

Speaking with the media in New York, Reed spoke well of his Texans experience, saying he has "a lot of respect for (the Texans), what they do and what they're going through." His decision to sign with the Jets hinged on his history with Rex Ryan, his former defensive coordinator with the Ravens, and knowledge of Ryan's scheme. Although the Patriots also contacted him, Reed conceded, "Going there, trying to learn a new situation, probably would have been difficult."

The Texans do not face the Jets this season but play New England on Dec. 1. It was Reed's success against the Patriots over the years with the Ravens that had made the Texans covet his services for what they thought would be a Super Bowl run.

Ryan called Reed "a great signing for us" and said the 35-year-old safety is in "outstanding shape" and "still moves well. He's gonna help this football team, without question."

Dale Robertson is the longest-tenured sports writer at a major daily newspaper in Texas, having spent 18 years with the Houston Post (1972-90) before joining the Houston Chronicle in the fall of 1990. His primary sports duties include covering the Texans, the Houston Marathon, the Shell Houston Open PGA tournament and the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship, a stop on the ATP World Tour. He’s also the Chronicle’s wine columnist while writing occasionally about health issues and travel destinations.

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